Laird Connectivity has unveiled the Nitrogen93 in a smart mobility architecture (SMARC) form factor, expanding the SOM (system-on-module) portfolio and offering a solution that uses both processor and wireless silicon from NXP. The Nitrogen93 is powered by NXP’s i.MX 93 processor, NXP PMIC (power management integrated circuit) PCA9451A, and Laird’ Sona NX611 Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 combo radio based on NXP’s IW611.
This high-performance SOM, when combined with the new SMARC carrier board, together serve as a single board computer (SBC) that can speed customer products to market.
“The Nitrogen93 SMARC delivers on our continuing partnership with NXP by delivering NXP’s next generation i.MX 93 processing with optional NXP Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 wireless connectivity onboard,” says Dan Kephart, senior product manager, Laird Connectivity. “Available in the SMARC 2.1.1 form factor, this product provides a secure, smart, standardised, and connected IoT solution that easily scales with customer’s applications.”
Powered by NXP’s i.MX 93 applications processor, the Nitrogen93 SMARC is a solution for heterogenous multiprocessing, delivering a up to 1.7 GHz dual-core Cortex-A55 microprocessor and 250 MHz Cortex-M33 microcontroller that allow customers to run Linux and an RTOS ((real-time operating system)) on dedicated, hardware-firewalled subsystems. Customers can leverage hardware acceleration with high-performance edge machine learning via an integrated neural processing unit, the Arm Ethos-U65 microNPU (micro neural processing unit). Multiple display, network, data, audio, and camera interfaces are also available.
The SMARC 2.1.1 standard edge connector has a form factor of 82mm x 50mm, which includes onboard ethernet PHYs (physical layer). One design can support multiple processors, memory, and wireless configurations. Customers can build a product design that is upgradable to the new processors and wireless options using other Laird Connectivity SOMs based on the SMARC standard.
“The i.MX 93 applications processor, the first in the i.MX 9 portfolio, delivers optimised performance and power efficiency. This combined with efficient machine learning and advanced security with the EdgeLock secure enclave results in a cutting-edge processor for industrial, medical, IoT and automotive systems,” says Robert Thompson, director, edge processing ecosystem, NXP Semiconductors. “To enable customers to fully utilise the potential of the i.MX 93 family, NXP Gold partners such as Laird Connectivity enable customers to quickly test, evaluate and move into production with advanced secure, connected devices.”
The Nitrogen93 SMARC is suitable for a broad range of applications, including industrial IoT, IoT vision systems, commercial food and beverage equipment, smart building control, and healthcare devices. It supports a secure and optionally encrypted boot mechanism to ensure only trusted software boots on customer devices. Additionally, customers have the option to store and use secure keys, certificates, and credentials in a run-time isolated trusted environment.
Laird Connectivity products are designed to meet the needs of the industrial and medical markets, which require a 10+ year product lifecycle. Software support includes Yocto Linux, Zephyr RTOS, and FreeRTOS. Long-term software support includes LTS Yocto Linux and Zephyr RTOS support with vulnerability remediation.
For more information about the Nitrogen93 SMARC, visit Laird Connectivity.
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